I've been living out here in the bush for a little over 4 months, and you would have thought that I would have mastered peeing in a hole by now. Well, not quite. I am notorious for peeing on myself every time I go to use my pit latrine. Even when I use my pee bucket at night, I still manage to get pee on my pajamas. I tell you, I just cannot get it right. Sorry for my absence, as I honestly have not been motivated to write anything lately. The heat here continues to linger on, and although it has rained a few times bringing in a nice cool front, the minute it stops, the heat only returns with a bitter vengeance as to truly piss me off and immediately put me in a bad mood.
I have fully furnished and decorated my hut to my liking (I'll eventually put pictures up. Sorry!). I got a cat when I first moved in awhile back, and it shortly died there after (4 days to be exact). I was deeply traumatized and upset for a good week afterwards mainly because for the small period that she was around, I had no evidence of mice or creepy crawlers anywhere. The minute kitty was gone, the mice came back and quickly began to eat through my books on my bookshelf. They even ate through my IPOD case!!! I resorted to rat poison after Firefly died (that's what I named kitty, after my favorite sweet tea vodka from back home), which did help a lot, although it came with a major problem. Finding the dead mouse after it after the poison. I left out poison one night on a piece of tomato as instructed and awoke the next morning to find it gone. Good!!! Mouse be gone I thought. Nia 1, Zambia 0. Two days later, I awoke to a Satan awful smell of what I could only describe as rotten intestines. I searched my hut high and low for whatever and wherever the smell could be coming from. After being sadly unsuccessful, it wasn't until the third day that I moved an item from up against my wall to find, yes of course, a dead mouse being eaten by thousands of maggots! Needless to say, I threw up in the back of my mouth and sadly admitted a change in score. Nia 0, Zambia 1. Victory was no longer mine.
This present hoilday season has left me extremely sad lately and memories of home only make me feel worse. I was super excited to spend Thanksgiving with the other volunteers and after bragging to everyone about how I make the world's best stuffing, it was only appropriate that I take on that task for our big dinner. Unfortunately, the package I got sent from home also contained Caress body soap along with my Jiffy Cornbread mix and poultry seasoning I use in my dish, so in turn my infamous stuffing ended up tasting like soap. I was deeply depressed and let down at dinner. None of the other volunteers complained, as I could tell that they say the disappointment in my face. I was too sad to even eat desert and ended up going to bed early that night. Nia 0, Zambia 2.
When I arrived back in my village after the Thanksgiving break we had, I was greeted with tons of termite mounds on my walls and mice droppings. This is the joy of living in the bush and having a house built out of mud and grass. Once again Nia 0, Zambia 3. I did get another cat which made me happy because living with mice is something I can no longer do. It looks exactly like Firefly who died, which kind of freaked me out for a while and its eyes are really milky and one eye doesn't really open all the way. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if the damn thing was blind, which would be the ultimate prank this country could ever play on me. But for the time being, Belvedere ( I named him that after my other favorite vodka) and I are going to kick it out here in the bush.
I am continuing to work hard and stay busy at my Rural Health Clinic. I've been working along side the staff on projects such as HIV/AIDS awareness, maternal and child health, and water sanitation. Child Health Week (Nov. 7-12, 2011) was a huge success in the village, and as far as I am concerned, the BEST form of birth control a girl can get. I spent five days straight under the hot African sun weighing and deworming thousands of little snot nose kids. They cried, they kicked, and they screamed for five straight days, but in the end, it was a pretty cool experience. I am currently working closely with a clinic staff member to formulate ideas and projects we want to collaborate with each other after the new year. The plan is to work two days in the clinic and three days out in the community doing different outreaches. Hopefully getting into the schools and doing health talks to different grade levels around issues of safe sex, HIV/AIDS, STI's, and nutrition. I also plan on working with the different clubs the schools have to offer like, the Anti-AIDS club and safe water sanitation clubs. I am just trouble shooting right now and working with different ideas, but as usual, I will keep you all updated. I have to run thanks again for staying in touch and until next time.
Peace & Love,
Baby Cheers
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
There's A New Mikuwa in Town
So, my village finally finished building my house in the village and I have officially moved in. My set up is pretty cool and I am honestly happy. I stay in a two room mud brick hut with a grass roof. I continue to pee, poop, and bath outside although those structures are not yet completed, so when I go to use the bathroom, any Zambian passing by gets to see all of my American goodies. Of course my house came with rats that live in my roof and come down at night and make a ton of annoying noises which keep me up and paranoid like crazy of them attacking me through my mosquito net like they did Adam in the Dominican Republic. I am getting a kitten, but it is still too young to leave it's mother, so for the time being I just deal with it and clean up tons of rat poop the next morning. I also live with termites, which really isn't too surprising considering the fact that my village built my house right in between two large termite mounds. I spray so much Doom in my house on a daily basis, I'm surprised I have become addicted to that stuff. It is still painfully hot in this country that I have decided not to light my brassier cause the thought of creating an open fire with this heat kills me. So, I've just been eating tuna out of the can and drinking warm Kool-Aid ever night. Now if that's not poor white trash out here in the bush, then I don't know what is. (Thank you family and Beverly who sent me tons of tuna. I appreciate it.) Mikuwa is the term for foreigner, so everywhere I go in the community, people stare, point, and scream, "Mikuwa, Mikuwa, Mikuwa". I kindly stare, point, and scream back, "Zambian, Zambian, Zambia".
I LOVE working in my rural health clinic and the opportunities I have there will only strengthen my nursing career. The entire staff is super nice and well educated, and plus there is electricity and running water, so I put tons of stuff in their refrigerator to stay nice and cold. I really don't think that I am supposed to be doing that, but I really don't care. It's hot here!!!
Halloween in the bush was a lot of fun, and thanks to Beverly who sent me tons of chocolate, me and my volunteer buddies had a blast camping outside my hut and pigging out on some good American candy. It's little things like camp outs and pig outs with other volunteers that make life out here not so hard. I remember the first Sunday I spent in the village was honestly an extreme low and down for me, as I found myself for the first time really missing all aspects of home. I remember talking to one of my volunteer buddies about it, and while on the verge of tears with the thought of every memory home has to offer, I held on to what my good friend Nicole had written to me in a going away good luck card she gave me back in July. "Remember Why Nia." Remember Why you chose to do this and hold onto that memory, and most importantly stay happy. You know, I find it very interesting that when we feel that we are at our lowest lows and down in spirit, that God has a way of redirecting our attention to what is really important. Remember Why Nia! Nicole wrote that to keep me focused and motivated, and in a moment of weakness and loneliness, I read it just at the right time.
Things have been much better since, and I am extremely thankful for people God has created and put specifically in my life. Continuing to take things one day at time and remembering why I am here makes all the difference. Thank you all once again for all the love and support while I'm out here in the bush. As always, I promise to keep you all updated on my stories.
Peace & Love,
Baby Cheers!!!
I LOVE working in my rural health clinic and the opportunities I have there will only strengthen my nursing career. The entire staff is super nice and well educated, and plus there is electricity and running water, so I put tons of stuff in their refrigerator to stay nice and cold. I really don't think that I am supposed to be doing that, but I really don't care. It's hot here!!!
Halloween in the bush was a lot of fun, and thanks to Beverly who sent me tons of chocolate, me and my volunteer buddies had a blast camping outside my hut and pigging out on some good American candy. It's little things like camp outs and pig outs with other volunteers that make life out here not so hard. I remember the first Sunday I spent in the village was honestly an extreme low and down for me, as I found myself for the first time really missing all aspects of home. I remember talking to one of my volunteer buddies about it, and while on the verge of tears with the thought of every memory home has to offer, I held on to what my good friend Nicole had written to me in a going away good luck card she gave me back in July. "Remember Why Nia." Remember Why you chose to do this and hold onto that memory, and most importantly stay happy. You know, I find it very interesting that when we feel that we are at our lowest lows and down in spirit, that God has a way of redirecting our attention to what is really important. Remember Why Nia! Nicole wrote that to keep me focused and motivated, and in a moment of weakness and loneliness, I read it just at the right time.
Things have been much better since, and I am extremely thankful for people God has created and put specifically in my life. Continuing to take things one day at time and remembering why I am here makes all the difference. Thank you all once again for all the love and support while I'm out here in the bush. As always, I promise to keep you all updated on my stories.
Peace & Love,
Baby Cheers!!!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Nobody Should Ever Expience This Much Pain...
I came to Africa and did the one think CeCe told me not to do...get Malaria! I spent all of last Friday with a sky high fever, nausea and vomiting, extreme join pain, chills, and a headache from Hell. I threw up twice on the side of the road along with having explosive diarrhea and resorted to pooping in plastic shopping bags once again. When I finally made it to Lusaka to receive medical treatment, my official diagnosis was Dysentery and Malaria, and as I laid in my hospital bed crying and too weak to move from all the pain I was in all I could think about was how much fun Abbie, Imani, and AJ are going to have in St. Kitts without me this Christmas break, and if I died right then and there, I just hoped that those ladies had an amazing time on my favorite island. But with all of the love and support from my friends and family back home and my girls down here in Southern Province with me who held my hand, rubbed my back, and told me countless time how much they loved me, I was discharged from the clinic on Saturday afternoon feeling a lot better thanks to a miracle drug the CDC has created for Malaria treatment and enough pain meds and antibiotics to cure all of Haiti from any Cholera crisis they may still be having. Malaria f**king sucks, but the treatment and services that I received in Lusaka were amazing and I am extremely thankful and blessed to have had such wonderful nurses and doctors.
Training is finally over with and after 11 weeks of intense language and technical skills acquired, 32 Peace Corps trainees swore in at the US Ambassadors house on October 7, 2011 as official volunteers. After much hard work and preparation, my village has finally completed my house and I am moving in today. I am so excited and as much as I enjoyed staying in the Provincial house in Choma with running water and electricity for the past week while my village finished work on my house, I am ready to move back into the village. It's funny how that works. When you are in the village, you can't wait to escape to the city, and when you are in the city, you can't wait to get back to the village. All I know is that I'm ready to make my new hut my new home and get back to work doing what I do best in the clinic.
The weather here is still Hot as Hell but according to every Zambian I have encountered, the rains will come on October 24, so that leaves me with less that a week to move into my hut and Malaria proof the Hell out of it. I'm praying that they hold off at least until early November but I highly doubt it. So despite how hot or wet it gets here from now until the end of my service in this country, I am wearing long sleeve pants and shirts with socks included and bug spray cause if I have to suffer another episode of that Satan virus, I may just surrender myself to the Heavens above.
Halloween is coming up and in attempts to continue to enjoy the traditions I grew up with, I am having a Halloween party in my hut. I am super excited, but of course really cautious, cause the last thing I need is my village to think that I am the American witchcraft worshiper who is thinking about bringing bad spells within the community. I sure as Hell don't need to deal with that but as always promised, I will keep you all updated on what end up happening. Now that I no longer live in the Lusaka area, I have a new mailing address for right now that all you wonderful people can have to send me holiday goodies if you please...or if you feel like sending me sports news since my best friend Rachel is slacking on her weekly updates of football scores, I would greatly appreciate that as well.
Nia Cheers/PCV
PO Box 630569
Choma, Zambia
As always, my internet time is running low and it is time for me to go back to the village. Until next time when I can update you all on my life out here in the bush...
Peace & Love,
Baby Cheers!!!
Training is finally over with and after 11 weeks of intense language and technical skills acquired, 32 Peace Corps trainees swore in at the US Ambassadors house on October 7, 2011 as official volunteers. After much hard work and preparation, my village has finally completed my house and I am moving in today. I am so excited and as much as I enjoyed staying in the Provincial house in Choma with running water and electricity for the past week while my village finished work on my house, I am ready to move back into the village. It's funny how that works. When you are in the village, you can't wait to escape to the city, and when you are in the city, you can't wait to get back to the village. All I know is that I'm ready to make my new hut my new home and get back to work doing what I do best in the clinic.
The weather here is still Hot as Hell but according to every Zambian I have encountered, the rains will come on October 24, so that leaves me with less that a week to move into my hut and Malaria proof the Hell out of it. I'm praying that they hold off at least until early November but I highly doubt it. So despite how hot or wet it gets here from now until the end of my service in this country, I am wearing long sleeve pants and shirts with socks included and bug spray cause if I have to suffer another episode of that Satan virus, I may just surrender myself to the Heavens above.
Halloween is coming up and in attempts to continue to enjoy the traditions I grew up with, I am having a Halloween party in my hut. I am super excited, but of course really cautious, cause the last thing I need is my village to think that I am the American witchcraft worshiper who is thinking about bringing bad spells within the community. I sure as Hell don't need to deal with that but as always promised, I will keep you all updated on what end up happening. Now that I no longer live in the Lusaka area, I have a new mailing address for right now that all you wonderful people can have to send me holiday goodies if you please...or if you feel like sending me sports news since my best friend Rachel is slacking on her weekly updates of football scores, I would greatly appreciate that as well.
Nia Cheers/PCV
PO Box 630569
Choma, Zambia
As always, my internet time is running low and it is time for me to go back to the village. Until next time when I can update you all on my life out here in the bush...
Peace & Love,
Baby Cheers!!!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Magoye Here I come...!!!
It's HOT here. I mean really hot. With temperatures rising up to 112F, the preparation I did prior to moving to Zambia of living the first part of the summer without air conditioning, has got nothing on Sub-Saharian African Heat. Boob sweat and wet soggy butt is unfortunately a regular thing now and my armpits smell like a garbage pit despite my Lady Speed Stick. To find myself in the company of a cold drink is like striking gold out here. I try to stay hydrated as much as I possibly can with all the biking and walking that I do on a day to day basis, but all I want to do is jump into an ice cold pool. But needless to say, like the other many challenges that this country has posed, I continue to take things one day at a time.
By the grace of God, I got through my first run in with explosive diarrhea and stomach cramps a few weeks ago. A bunch of volunteers went out to dinner in Lusaka and whatever I had at the Indian restaurant damn there killed me. Let me tell you one thing. Having explosive diarrhea, cramps, and nausea in a mud hut with no toilet and running water is not a good situation. I pooped all night. When I filled up my pee bucket, I found myself using leftover ziplock bags I was storing my toiletries in. Thank God Joy sent me a carepackage earlier this week with a new supply of bags. But I'm good and healthy now and feeling better than ever.
Second site visit has finally approached an end, as I'm spending the last night in Choma, the provincial capital of Southern with my other Tonga speaking volunteers. We started Sunday September 4th and headed deep south to Kalomo district to stay with senior volunteer apart of the LIFE (Linking Income Food in the Environment) program. A crazy cool married couple that made us feel right at home. There we continued our health training as much we could despite the fact they weren't health care volunteers. We facitilated a health talk to a Under 5 clinic of mothers and their children on topics of diarrhea, clean water, and Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS) that can be used to treat diarrhea and dehydration. I have to admit, I never in a million years thought I would enjoy working with the Mother/Baby Pediatric population, but since working in the communities here in Zambia, I have grown to love it. Although, I have a bad habit of grabbing babies in the village and picking them up and holding them, I am constantly being pissed on because diapers just don't really exist. So in addition of being hot and stinky with my own body odor, I also have the smell of child piss on me all the time. Great.
The second half of site visit, I traveled to my new village where I will be living in October. Magoye village in Mazabuka district. I received the best village welcome ever. Singing and dancing and tons of smiles welcomed me and I loved it all. I will be staying on a Headwoman's compound with her husband, two daughters, and about 13 children (Oh, God help me). My house although not complete yet, looks amazing, and I cannot wait for them to finish it and I move in. It a two bedroom house with a Chikuta(Tonga for kitchen) and of course a pit latriene for pooping and a bathing shelter. My water source is a borehole about 12-15ft from my house. My rural health clinic that I will be working in is busy six days a week with it being closed on Sunday. I am super excited to get back in October and start working there and although extremely understaffed with no doctor, four nurses, one lab tech, and one pharm tech, they are too cannot wait for me to come back and begin working.
In my community, I performed an initial assessment of the village, going around asking individuals and family households what they feel is the biggest concern in the village. Go figure, the number one concern is water sanitation and security in relation to diarrhea. Well considering that animals(cows, goats, chickens) roam free and use the same water source that people use, causing contamination of clean water and people in the village do not use the best hygienic methods, I can see how water sanitation is the number one issue. With the help of my Tonga speaking counterpart, we collectively decided that when I return in October, we would work to facilitate a health talk on healthy clean water and the prevention of diarrhea. I am so excited. So, of course I will keep you all updated as to how that goes.
I am officially headed into the last weeks of training. Three weeks left before our swear in ceremony as official volunteers at the US Ambassador's house. When I get back to my village later this week, I really need to look into getting a traditional Zambian outfit made cause apparently swear in ceremony is a big deal with lots of important people. Elections are coming up next week which means I have to stay put safely in the village and I realistically won't be able to come back and update you all until early October. So, with that said, I love you all back home and continue as always thank you all for the love and support. Until next time.
Peace & Love,
Baby Cheers!!!
By the grace of God, I got through my first run in with explosive diarrhea and stomach cramps a few weeks ago. A bunch of volunteers went out to dinner in Lusaka and whatever I had at the Indian restaurant damn there killed me. Let me tell you one thing. Having explosive diarrhea, cramps, and nausea in a mud hut with no toilet and running water is not a good situation. I pooped all night. When I filled up my pee bucket, I found myself using leftover ziplock bags I was storing my toiletries in. Thank God Joy sent me a carepackage earlier this week with a new supply of bags. But I'm good and healthy now and feeling better than ever.
Second site visit has finally approached an end, as I'm spending the last night in Choma, the provincial capital of Southern with my other Tonga speaking volunteers. We started Sunday September 4th and headed deep south to Kalomo district to stay with senior volunteer apart of the LIFE (Linking Income Food in the Environment) program. A crazy cool married couple that made us feel right at home. There we continued our health training as much we could despite the fact they weren't health care volunteers. We facitilated a health talk to a Under 5 clinic of mothers and their children on topics of diarrhea, clean water, and Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS) that can be used to treat diarrhea and dehydration. I have to admit, I never in a million years thought I would enjoy working with the Mother/Baby Pediatric population, but since working in the communities here in Zambia, I have grown to love it. Although, I have a bad habit of grabbing babies in the village and picking them up and holding them, I am constantly being pissed on because diapers just don't really exist. So in addition of being hot and stinky with my own body odor, I also have the smell of child piss on me all the time. Great.
The second half of site visit, I traveled to my new village where I will be living in October. Magoye village in Mazabuka district. I received the best village welcome ever. Singing and dancing and tons of smiles welcomed me and I loved it all. I will be staying on a Headwoman's compound with her husband, two daughters, and about 13 children (Oh, God help me). My house although not complete yet, looks amazing, and I cannot wait for them to finish it and I move in. It a two bedroom house with a Chikuta(Tonga for kitchen) and of course a pit latriene for pooping and a bathing shelter. My water source is a borehole about 12-15ft from my house. My rural health clinic that I will be working in is busy six days a week with it being closed on Sunday. I am super excited to get back in October and start working there and although extremely understaffed with no doctor, four nurses, one lab tech, and one pharm tech, they are too cannot wait for me to come back and begin working.
In my community, I performed an initial assessment of the village, going around asking individuals and family households what they feel is the biggest concern in the village. Go figure, the number one concern is water sanitation and security in relation to diarrhea. Well considering that animals(cows, goats, chickens) roam free and use the same water source that people use, causing contamination of clean water and people in the village do not use the best hygienic methods, I can see how water sanitation is the number one issue. With the help of my Tonga speaking counterpart, we collectively decided that when I return in October, we would work to facilitate a health talk on healthy clean water and the prevention of diarrhea. I am so excited. So, of course I will keep you all updated as to how that goes.
I am officially headed into the last weeks of training. Three weeks left before our swear in ceremony as official volunteers at the US Ambassador's house. When I get back to my village later this week, I really need to look into getting a traditional Zambian outfit made cause apparently swear in ceremony is a big deal with lots of important people. Elections are coming up next week which means I have to stay put safely in the village and I realistically won't be able to come back and update you all until early October. So, with that said, I love you all back home and continue as always thank you all for the love and support. Until next time.
Peace & Love,
Baby Cheers!!!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
I'm Back...!!!!
Greeting again from Zambia. Yes, I'm still out here living in my hut, eating with my hands, and peeing in buckets in the middle of the night. My Uncle Curtis is in town visiting from Atlanta, which has been a super nice treat having him spoil me to lunch and other treats around Lusaka. This week has also been SUPER special, as I got the BEST carepackage ever from the BEST family ever. I mean it was AMAZING. I love you Cheers family. But really Imani, a PBS bumper sticker. Where am I supposed to put it? On the back of my bike? It arrived in mint condition with no problems passing through customs. I placed it in storage at our training facility, cause there is no way in Hell I was bringing it back to my hut. Not for the mice and roaches to eat through it. But nontheless between my Uncle coming to visit and receiving my package, I really have had a good week.
Village life continue to move on and as always promised, here is an update as to what has been going on over the past couple of weeks. Friday we got our site announcements as to where we will be living after training. I will be moving to Southern Province, Mazabuka District, in Magonye Village. It is about two hours from Lusaka using public transportation. I am 30K from my rural health clinic, which truly sucks so I guess I need to start paying alot more attention in bike training considering I will be on that damn thing faithfully biking to and from the clinic everyday. I am about 20K from the main road and from my closest neighbor who is one of my best buddies here. Super excited about that!!! The village poisoned and killed our family puppy last week which I thought was really f**ked up, but apparently Zambians don't like domestic animals and it is unfortunately really common here. Later that day, I also learned that the village had also killed a cat on my neighbors compound. Really Zambia? Really? On another note, I stopped eating chicken since I've been here cause I practically live with them and I've come to the conclusion that they are disgusting and eat everything around. And, one threw up in the main house where I eat and after seeing what came out of it has completely ruined my life.
I burned myself making nsima with my host sister, causing a very ugly and painful second degree burn on my right arm. Ironic because I was the volunteer who gave a presentation on burns earlier that week and of course it would happen to me first. I almost set my hut on fire trying to use candles to create a soothing environment after a long day which I don't think I will be doing again. The candle feel over and rolled near my mattress which of course in on the floor surrounded by dirt and grass that falls from my roof. I think that I'll be staying away from fire from now on and only use my head lamp and solar lamp for light at night.
Training continues to be more time consuming and language is becoming more intense. Or maybe I just need to study more. Probably that actually. As a group, we have been doing more hands on work in the community, getting out to individuals and small groups to assess and observe the knowledge and skill abilities of people living in the village. Last week, we had an assignment to collectively build a dish rack for a family to help ensure dishes are properly cleaned and dried before using again and to help decrease contamination by unclean water and flies. We also built a fence around a borehole water source to help keep animals (cows, goats, chickens) out and away from contaminating the water supply and possibly spreading bacteria and disease. The community seemed to respond well to our new interventions but we'll see how long they last considering people were awkwardly staring at us while working and then huffed and puffed while walking around to the fences entrance as if we made their journey 10k longer.
We were also given an assignment in community health base training to facilitate interviews with people in the community on the common myths, traditions, and cultural practices about HIV/AIDS. I chose to interview my host family mainly cause they speak English fairly well and we got the assignment really late that day, and we all know my rule about going outside after dark. I don't! So, interviewing my host parents it was and what I learned was interesting, but unfortunately to me, not too surprising. Some common myths and traditions I learned were as follows: Sex with a virgin cures HIV/AIDS. Sex with an infant cures HIV/AIDS. If you are circumcised (males), you cannot get AIDS. Oral birth control contains HIV/AIDS. Tradition healers can cure AIDS. Traveling to South Africa to get a blood transfusion can cure AIDS. Needless to say, this interview was an eyeopener and an informative introduction to what I will be dealing with when living and working in my rural health clinic alone come October. Like i said, it was only an interview. Step One, is to assess and observe. Gathering collective data to set up the implementation process of my work will come in step two, and from what I have been hearing, I seem to have my work cut out for me. Let's face it behavioral modification is going to be my biggest challenge. Many of these people have lived by and followed some of these myths and practices for years. Changing behavior and introducing new practices such as condom use, HIV testing, hand washing techniques WITH SOAP, water sanitation practices (boiling and/or filtering), using the pit latrine to pee and poop, which many Zambians do not use, is going to be a great challenge. Hard, but not impossible so as I've said, I will keep you all posted on the many projects I find myself working on over the next 2 years.
I will be traveling next week to Southern Province for my second site visit with my Tonga classmates to get one last in-depth look at how we will be living and working on our own come October. I'm super excited and I continue to ask you all to keep my in your prayers as I travel and visit my new village I will be living in come October. Until the next time I find myself in the wonderful presence of internet...
Peace & Love,
Baby Cheers
Village life continue to move on and as always promised, here is an update as to what has been going on over the past couple of weeks. Friday we got our site announcements as to where we will be living after training. I will be moving to Southern Province, Mazabuka District, in Magonye Village. It is about two hours from Lusaka using public transportation. I am 30K from my rural health clinic, which truly sucks so I guess I need to start paying alot more attention in bike training considering I will be on that damn thing faithfully biking to and from the clinic everyday. I am about 20K from the main road and from my closest neighbor who is one of my best buddies here. Super excited about that!!! The village poisoned and killed our family puppy last week which I thought was really f**ked up, but apparently Zambians don't like domestic animals and it is unfortunately really common here. Later that day, I also learned that the village had also killed a cat on my neighbors compound. Really Zambia? Really? On another note, I stopped eating chicken since I've been here cause I practically live with them and I've come to the conclusion that they are disgusting and eat everything around. And, one threw up in the main house where I eat and after seeing what came out of it has completely ruined my life.
I burned myself making nsima with my host sister, causing a very ugly and painful second degree burn on my right arm. Ironic because I was the volunteer who gave a presentation on burns earlier that week and of course it would happen to me first. I almost set my hut on fire trying to use candles to create a soothing environment after a long day which I don't think I will be doing again. The candle feel over and rolled near my mattress which of course in on the floor surrounded by dirt and grass that falls from my roof. I think that I'll be staying away from fire from now on and only use my head lamp and solar lamp for light at night.
Training continues to be more time consuming and language is becoming more intense. Or maybe I just need to study more. Probably that actually. As a group, we have been doing more hands on work in the community, getting out to individuals and small groups to assess and observe the knowledge and skill abilities of people living in the village. Last week, we had an assignment to collectively build a dish rack for a family to help ensure dishes are properly cleaned and dried before using again and to help decrease contamination by unclean water and flies. We also built a fence around a borehole water source to help keep animals (cows, goats, chickens) out and away from contaminating the water supply and possibly spreading bacteria and disease. The community seemed to respond well to our new interventions but we'll see how long they last considering people were awkwardly staring at us while working and then huffed and puffed while walking around to the fences entrance as if we made their journey 10k longer.
We were also given an assignment in community health base training to facilitate interviews with people in the community on the common myths, traditions, and cultural practices about HIV/AIDS. I chose to interview my host family mainly cause they speak English fairly well and we got the assignment really late that day, and we all know my rule about going outside after dark. I don't! So, interviewing my host parents it was and what I learned was interesting, but unfortunately to me, not too surprising. Some common myths and traditions I learned were as follows: Sex with a virgin cures HIV/AIDS. Sex with an infant cures HIV/AIDS. If you are circumcised (males), you cannot get AIDS. Oral birth control contains HIV/AIDS. Tradition healers can cure AIDS. Traveling to South Africa to get a blood transfusion can cure AIDS. Needless to say, this interview was an eyeopener and an informative introduction to what I will be dealing with when living and working in my rural health clinic alone come October. Like i said, it was only an interview. Step One, is to assess and observe. Gathering collective data to set up the implementation process of my work will come in step two, and from what I have been hearing, I seem to have my work cut out for me. Let's face it behavioral modification is going to be my biggest challenge. Many of these people have lived by and followed some of these myths and practices for years. Changing behavior and introducing new practices such as condom use, HIV testing, hand washing techniques WITH SOAP, water sanitation practices (boiling and/or filtering), using the pit latrine to pee and poop, which many Zambians do not use, is going to be a great challenge. Hard, but not impossible so as I've said, I will keep you all posted on the many projects I find myself working on over the next 2 years.
I will be traveling next week to Southern Province for my second site visit with my Tonga classmates to get one last in-depth look at how we will be living and working on our own come October. I'm super excited and I continue to ask you all to keep my in your prayers as I travel and visit my new village I will be living in come October. Until the next time I find myself in the wonderful presence of internet...
Peace & Love,
Baby Cheers
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Internet Again...??!!!
I've found myself in Lusaka once again. Wow, two weekends in a row!!!! Thank God. I'm especially happy I'm here so I can buy some more toilet paper. I ran out earlier this week and you DO NOT want to know what I had to use to wipe myself with yesterday morning as I found myself running outside to use the bathroom with poop practically running down my left leg. But I'm back in the city for a field trip to the Lusaka Museum and I'm happy to check in with you all and let you know how my week went.
Another volunteer went home yesterday and although I wasn't too surprised at his decision, we all collectively supported him in his choice to leave. This week has been a good one, and as I continue to learn how to adapt to my life here in Zambia, I find that taking things one day at a time is my best bet. My BaTaata fixed my door this week so hopefully the mouse that was staying with me off and on will find a new place of residence. I'll keep you all updated on how that goes. On another note, I completely wiped out on my bike earlier this week and broke it. I mean I straight up cleared grass and ate dust and dirt with this accident. But it's all good. I just picked myself up and kept it moving. The next day I found that I had a flat tire and had to get my holes patched up, so needless to say, this hasn't been the best bike week for me.
My ass is spreading from east to west here with all the carbs that I am eating. I'm not joking. I read prior to coming here that women tend to gain weight here especially the first three months because of all the carbs that we are feed, but got damn. I mean really. I eat 5 to 6 slices of bread for breakfast. Donuts for tea time and potatoes/rice/pasta for lunch and all the above for dinner. No joke. But with all the crap that I am eating, I'm just thankful that I get food to eat. Ahhhh, I am really looking forward to the care package that Imani sent out earlier this week.
My host family continues to show me lots of love while I am staying with them. I spend half of my time with my BaTaata studying my language, as he constantly stresses the importance of my studies, and I spend the other half of my time with my BaMamma learning how to cook like a Zambian woman. Oh my life. The kids in the family spend most of their time starring at me which is okay cause I just stare back. I mainly stare at my two year old brother who when done using the bathroom scoots across the front yard. I'm not sure why and I haven't yet asked. I'm not sure if he has worms or if it's because they can't afford toilet paper to wipe with. I really want to flip him upside down and examine his butt, but I'm not sure how that will be perceived and I really don't want to end up on locked up abroad Zambia edition for child molestation. But other than that, I'm really enjoying my time spent with them.
I continue to take things one day at a time and the outpouring love and support really makes me feel good. A care package with lots of chocolate would also make me feel good. So feel free to drop that in the priority mail anytime soon. I'm not sure when I'll be back in Lusaka to update you all. I'm heading down to Southern province in a few weeks to checked out my house and village for second site visit. Please keep me in your prayers, as I have been told that second site visit is another culture shock that normally sends more people home. I love you all and don't forget about that care package I asked for. I'm serious. Until next time friends and family around the world.
Peace & Love,
Baby Cheers
Another volunteer went home yesterday and although I wasn't too surprised at his decision, we all collectively supported him in his choice to leave. This week has been a good one, and as I continue to learn how to adapt to my life here in Zambia, I find that taking things one day at a time is my best bet. My BaTaata fixed my door this week so hopefully the mouse that was staying with me off and on will find a new place of residence. I'll keep you all updated on how that goes. On another note, I completely wiped out on my bike earlier this week and broke it. I mean I straight up cleared grass and ate dust and dirt with this accident. But it's all good. I just picked myself up and kept it moving. The next day I found that I had a flat tire and had to get my holes patched up, so needless to say, this hasn't been the best bike week for me.
My ass is spreading from east to west here with all the carbs that I am eating. I'm not joking. I read prior to coming here that women tend to gain weight here especially the first three months because of all the carbs that we are feed, but got damn. I mean really. I eat 5 to 6 slices of bread for breakfast. Donuts for tea time and potatoes/rice/pasta for lunch and all the above for dinner. No joke. But with all the crap that I am eating, I'm just thankful that I get food to eat. Ahhhh, I am really looking forward to the care package that Imani sent out earlier this week.
My host family continues to show me lots of love while I am staying with them. I spend half of my time with my BaTaata studying my language, as he constantly stresses the importance of my studies, and I spend the other half of my time with my BaMamma learning how to cook like a Zambian woman. Oh my life. The kids in the family spend most of their time starring at me which is okay cause I just stare back. I mainly stare at my two year old brother who when done using the bathroom scoots across the front yard. I'm not sure why and I haven't yet asked. I'm not sure if he has worms or if it's because they can't afford toilet paper to wipe with. I really want to flip him upside down and examine his butt, but I'm not sure how that will be perceived and I really don't want to end up on locked up abroad Zambia edition for child molestation. But other than that, I'm really enjoying my time spent with them.
I continue to take things one day at a time and the outpouring love and support really makes me feel good. A care package with lots of chocolate would also make me feel good. So feel free to drop that in the priority mail anytime soon. I'm not sure when I'll be back in Lusaka to update you all. I'm heading down to Southern province in a few weeks to checked out my house and village for second site visit. Please keep me in your prayers, as I have been told that second site visit is another culture shock that normally sends more people home. I love you all and don't forget about that care package I asked for. I'm serious. Until next time friends and family around the world.
Peace & Love,
Baby Cheers
Sunday, August 7, 2011
One Day At A Time
I apologize about the delay. Peace Corps wasn't joking when they said that we wouldn't have access to email/internet during our first three months of service, but in desperation, I have found myself in the presence of an internet cafe. I arrived safely in Zambia on Wednesday July 20, 2011, and it has already been a roller coaster ride of emotions I am currently living about an hour away from Lusaka h my hot family in a village called Chishiko. My host family consists of my BaMamma and BaTaata, three of there children, their daughter-in-law, two grandchildren, an orphan they took in some years ago, four cows, four chickens, a dog, a cat, and a rooster that I want to f**king kill. I live in a mud brick hut with a mouse and wall spiders, free of charge of course. The main house has roaches. I bathe outside everyday in a bucket with warm water that my BaMamma prepares for me which comes with challenges considering the fact that I dropped my soap in cow shit the other day. I poop in a hole outside that's about 8-9feet deep. I do keep a pee bucket in my house cause the thought of leaving my house in the middle of the night scares the Hell out of me. And with the exception of me dropping my bucket the other morning and spilling my pee all over me and the wall, it seems to be going great. I am dirty about 95% of my day. My skin is terribly dry from the Doxy, soap, and water here and my hair, well lets just say...hair...be..gone! That's right, I chopped it all off. Oh, pictures you want. Well you well just have to come over here and visit me to see the new do that I'm rocking.
My training is intense yet full of information. I spend four hours five days a week learning Tonga which is spoken in the South of Zambia. That's right, I will be living in Southern province which is home to the Victory Falls. So when you come visit, fly into Livingston. The second half of my day is spent primarily learning about community/village based issues that we will need when moving into our province in October (HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Nutrition, etc.). Like I said, training is intense and I'm so ready for October to come so I can just post up in my village and start working. Truth be told, all of Zambia has been a bit intense. From the diet which consist of trans fat oil and empty carbs, to the snake that scared the living shit out of me on my bike ride home the other day, all of this has been a big adjustment. People have gone home already, some are facing crucial illnesses forcing them to seek medical attention in Lusaka and leave training, and the rest of us, well we have gone crazy and have fallen into a state of delirium. But regardless, we have found ourselves sticking together and supporting one another each and everyday. It may be hard, but it ain't impossible.
I think about home from time to time, but the thought of coming home has never crossed my mind. Mainly because my mom has told the entire world about me serving here and how proud she is of me. So, come Hell or high water, mice and yes oh God even snakes, I'm not leaving Zambia no time soon. Beside when I find myself feeling down and questioning my decision, I look around and take in the GORGEOUS scenery this place has to offer. The sunset, the stars, and the sunrise are just to good to leave. I keep telling myself "One day at a time Nia". Keeping in mind that God has me here for a reason whether I understand it now or not.
I find myself in prayer a lot. It's amazing how when you have nothing, or very little, God is everything. It's a good thing though. I'm enjoying my relationship with Him. I continue to work on my relationship with patience, but trust me, this is the perfect test to be put through. One day at a time. Remember Nia.
I Live in the middle of Africa. Literally. And although I have mice and roaches and the occasional bug I find on the back of my neck, I still know that this is right for me. The best times are when I get calls from Adam checking up on me, or emails from Karl and Heather putting me in contact with a good friend they have here in Lusaka to meet up with. Thanks guys, I really appreciate it. I journal everyday and I'm quickly learning the difference between independence and loneliness. It gets really lonely here from time to time and my cravings for chocolate and something other than nshima (the staple food here in Zambia; corn crop) drive me to the point of eye twitching. But like I said, I'm staying. I pray that God continues to protect and bless my friends and family back at home and those in various other parts of the world. I love and miss you all and continue to thank God for all the love and support you all continue to show me.
Peace & Love,
Baby Cheers
My training is intense yet full of information. I spend four hours five days a week learning Tonga which is spoken in the South of Zambia. That's right, I will be living in Southern province which is home to the Victory Falls. So when you come visit, fly into Livingston. The second half of my day is spent primarily learning about community/village based issues that we will need when moving into our province in October (HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Nutrition, etc.). Like I said, training is intense and I'm so ready for October to come so I can just post up in my village and start working. Truth be told, all of Zambia has been a bit intense. From the diet which consist of trans fat oil and empty carbs, to the snake that scared the living shit out of me on my bike ride home the other day, all of this has been a big adjustment. People have gone home already, some are facing crucial illnesses forcing them to seek medical attention in Lusaka and leave training, and the rest of us, well we have gone crazy and have fallen into a state of delirium. But regardless, we have found ourselves sticking together and supporting one another each and everyday. It may be hard, but it ain't impossible.
I think about home from time to time, but the thought of coming home has never crossed my mind. Mainly because my mom has told the entire world about me serving here and how proud she is of me. So, come Hell or high water, mice and yes oh God even snakes, I'm not leaving Zambia no time soon. Beside when I find myself feeling down and questioning my decision, I look around and take in the GORGEOUS scenery this place has to offer. The sunset, the stars, and the sunrise are just to good to leave. I keep telling myself "One day at a time Nia". Keeping in mind that God has me here for a reason whether I understand it now or not.
I find myself in prayer a lot. It's amazing how when you have nothing, or very little, God is everything. It's a good thing though. I'm enjoying my relationship with Him. I continue to work on my relationship with patience, but trust me, this is the perfect test to be put through. One day at a time. Remember Nia.
I Live in the middle of Africa. Literally. And although I have mice and roaches and the occasional bug I find on the back of my neck, I still know that this is right for me. The best times are when I get calls from Adam checking up on me, or emails from Karl and Heather putting me in contact with a good friend they have here in Lusaka to meet up with. Thanks guys, I really appreciate it. I journal everyday and I'm quickly learning the difference between independence and loneliness. It gets really lonely here from time to time and my cravings for chocolate and something other than nshima (the staple food here in Zambia; corn crop) drive me to the point of eye twitching. But like I said, I'm staying. I pray that God continues to protect and bless my friends and family back at home and those in various other parts of the world. I love and miss you all and continue to thank God for all the love and support you all continue to show me.
Peace & Love,
Baby Cheers
Sunday, July 17, 2011
All Packed and Ready to Move...
This is it. You ask me if I’m ready to go and my answer is simply “yes”. I have packed up 27months of my life in two suitcases, I have said my goodbyes and I am patiently awaiting my journey to begin in Philly tomorrow morning. This…is…it! Saying goodbye to AJ this evening sucked, and I sit here on my porch swing teary eyed at the realization of this decision I have chosen to make. I am getting ready to completely uproot myself from everything that I know and love to wholeheartedly and humbly serve other people. I cannot wait. I pray that God not only gives me the protection and strength I need to successfully serve others while in Zambia, but most importantly, I pray that God lay his hand upon my heart. For healing, for guidance, and for wisdom, I pray that God be by my side every step of the way.
Goodbyes suck. I've managed to keep it together and cry after my guest leave. Lame me. This has been the most exciting, exhausting emotional week of my life. Every phone call, text message, and personal visit I have gotten from someone this week has made me feel so loved. I am thankful for you all and it’s the support from you guys that keep me going and confident in my decision. But considering that I plan on seeing lots of you on the motherland, it’s been more like “I’ll just see you next year”.
Zambia, I sure hope that you are ready for me. I pack a lot of power in this tiny body. I pray that you all continue on this journey with me and keep in touch. I’m all packed and ready to go.
Peace & Love,
Baby Cheers
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Zambia, Not Zimbabwe!!
With little less than three weeks left, I broke down today and cried. It’s finally starting to sink in. I’m getting ready to pack up and make this biggest move of my life thus far. I wonder what it will look like? I wonder how the people will sound and the food will taste. What’s so special about this place? I know I told the Peace Corps I was willing to go anywhere on the African continent, but Zambia really? Half the people I tell where I’m going don’t know where it is, and the other half get it confused with its neighbor to the south Zimbabwe. I’m moving to Zambia people, not Zimbabwe!! With the exception of my international (AISJ) friends who travel this world like it’s nobody’s business and for those who have been to Zambia many times, I can only sit back and hear stories and memories that they have created with this foreign place. Soon, I hope to do the same. Ever since I got my invitation letter back in April, and officially accepted the role of a Peace Corps Volunteer, I have done everything in my power to read and research information about this foreign country. Tightly land locked in Sub-Saharan Africa, Zambia is a country rich in natural resources and culture. After gaining their independence from the United Kingdom in October 1964, Zambia has continued to remain a rather peaceful and quiet country. However this country has been plagued with the terrible challenge of poverty and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. With two-thirds of its population living under the poverty line and an estimated one million people living with HIV/AIDS, the world factbook ranks Zambia 12th in the world of countries affected with this disease. In 1994, the Peace Corps began service relations with Zambia and now 17 years later, over 1,300 volunteers have successfully completed a 27 month commitment of service.
I begin my service as a Peace Crops Volunteer July 18, 2011 and from there, I really have no idea what to expect. And I can’t wait. I will join about 35 other individuals and married couples in Philly as we collectively set of on a once in a lifetime adventure. We will all be serving in part of the Community Health Improvement Project (CHIP) educating people in HIV/AIDS education, water sanitation, and malaria while in Zambia. From Philly, we leave out of JFK airport for a 15hour 20minute flight to Johannesburg and from there continue on 2 hours from Johannesburg to Lusaka, in which I’m sure I’ll arrive slightly hung over, exhausted, funky and hungry. Our first three months in Zambia will be spent just outside Lusaka with a host family doing intense language, job, and cultural training so that will be able to adequately serve our new community. After our three months of training, my group will be dispersed throughout the country, living in rural villages with no running water or electricity. I will live in a mud brick hut with a grass roof. I am provided with a mosquito net, a bike and a helmet, and a water jug. Sounds crazy right? It’s like camping for two years!!!
With all that said, you would think that I would have freaked out or backed out by now. But I’m still going. I Gmail chatted with my buddy earlier this week who left for Tanzania in early June to see how her experience was going and after starting the conversation with, “Oh, Tanzania is so beautiful and the people are so nice!” She ended the conversation with, “I washed an entire load of clothes today in a bucket and YES, I have bedbugs, roaches, spiders, mosquitoes and mice so be prepared for anything!” Well, okay!!! Thanks girl for the heads up. At times I sit back and really try to imagine what my experience is going to be like. I have heard some stories and witnessed other people’s volunteer experience through facebook and youtube, but what will MY experience be like. What will Zambia offer to me? How will these people and this place change my life? Trust me; I’m not one of those people who plan on doing this experience in hopes of “saving the world”. Jesus already proclaimed to have done that. If anything, I want the world to change me. Further open my eyes and my heart to something so special and powerful I will be able to hold onto it forever. Yes, in my 27 month time commitment, I do hope that I will have positively affected someone’s life while in Zambia. But I think the greatest gift in the end will be what Zambia has done for me, not what I have done for it.
People constantly ask me why I have decided to do something so “crazy” as being a Peace Corps Volunteer. It’s simple. This is God’s decision, not mine. When I got back from Kenya last fall, something inside of me was different. The way I viewed life and love and relationships had all changed. I wanted more of that experience. I wanted to hear more stories of people’s testimony of struggle and success. I wanted to learn and teach and just simply share my story with others. God had put me in Kenya for a reason. I am meant to truly serve others. I also had come to the conclusion that I was very unhappy with my job at the hospital and that the field of nursing had turned into a political hierarchy of bullshit and corruption. I’m also not in the business of killing people and if I had to witness one more of my patients go off to another unnecessary invasive procedure and die, I was going to go crazy. So, with that said, I knew it was time for me to make a change.
I have no doubt in my mind that I’ll be okay during my 27 months of service. My family and friends support and love me way too much for me to be scared or insecure about my decision. I really hope to be open and at times vulnerable to the lessons and experience Zambia has to offer. I hope that I can use this blog to creatively share with you all what I am experiencing while in Zambia. I pray that some of you find the opportunity to come and visit me while serving and if so, please bring me some toilet paper and a Mr. Goodbar, and a Stella if you can get it pass customs. I’ll drink it warm if I have to. I love you all and I will keep in touch as often as I can. Peace and Love!!
Nia “baby” Cheers
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)